Planning Commission vice-chairman Jon Gustafson announced his city council candidacy Thursday, saying he is ready to “continue the progress our city has made in the last decade.”

He entered the race relunctantly, he said, because of the politically polarized city atmosphere and the time investment. But, as more friends and neighbors encouraged him after watching him on the planning commission, he decided that if people will support him, he'll run.

"I realized that I do like contributing in that way and I found that to be rewarding and I think that being on the council would be a similar sense of satisfaction," Gustafson said.